Author Archives: Coffee Tea Knits

Tutorial Series: The Cable Cast-on Method

Posted in The Cable Cast-on Method, Tutorial Series by

One of the decorative cast-on methods I like to use is the Cable Cast-on method. I’ve used this cast-on method on several of my knits including The Cozy Season Shrug and The Cozy Mood Winter Hat. It gives a nice finished edge for any top down or bottom up knitted items. An advantage to this method is that you don’t need a long yarn tail to begin casting on the stitches. The cable cast-on begins with a slip knot and each additional stitch is added using an alternative to the knitted cast-on method. The written instructions and video below on how to do the cable cast-on is shown for right handed knitting.

The Cable Cast-on Method

The Cable Cast-on Steps:

  1. Make a slip knot
  2. Transfer the slip knot onto the left knitting needle
  3. Insert the right knitting needle into the slip knot and bring working yarn around and in between the two needles as if to knit
  4. Catch and pull the working yarn loop onto the right knitting needle
  5. Transfer the new stitch loop from the right knitting needle onto the left knitting needle
  6. Insert the right knitting needle into the space in between the bottom of first 2 stitches on the left knitting needle
  7. Catch and pull the working yarn loop with the right knitting needle
  8. Transfer the new stitch loop from the right knitting needle onto the left knitting needle
  9. Repeat steps 6 – 8 till the desired number of stitch count is reached for a knitting project

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

The Cozy Mood Winter Hat Pattern

Posted in November 2023, The Cozy Mood Winter Hat Pattern by

It seems winter has come early this year. We’ve already had below freezing temperatures and a bit of snow. The Cozy Mood Winter Hat will be worn earlier than I thought. It is warm and cozy and knit with Lion Brand® Wool Ease® Thick and Quick yarn. The yarn is a super bulky weight so the hat can be completed in a short time.  

The Cozy Mood Winter Hat is knit bottom up and in the round. It begins with a 1×1 ribbing in Colorway 1  yarn, followed by several rounds in the linen knit stitch pattern for the body of the hat. It’s a two round pattern with alternating Colorway 1 yarn and Colorway 2 yarn. Decreases in linen stitch pattern are made for the crown and the hat is then finished with a pom pom. 

Materials Needed for The Cozy Mood Winter Hat:
Yarn: Lion Brand® Wool Ease® Thick and Quick yarn in the Fisherman (Colorway 1) and Hudson Bay (Colorway 2)
Knitting Needles: US #10.5 for 1×1 ribbing and US #13 16-inch circular needles for the rest of the hat; US #13 knitting needles for the cable cast on 
Tapestry needle to weave in ends

Knitting skill level: Advanced beginner to Intermediate (pattern is knit in the round, has cable cast on, colorwork, and shaping)
Gauge: 9 stitches / 6.5 rows in 4 inches in stockinette stitch pattern with US #13 knitting needles without blocking
Size: Adult M/L (about 8.5 inches from earlobe to top of head and 22 – 24 inches in circumference)

Abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
pm: place marker
rm: remove marker
sm: slip marker
BOR: beginning of round
K2tog: Knit the two stitches on the left needle together
wyif S1: with working yarn in front slip on stitch off the left needle purlwise
wyib S1: with working yarn in the back
[…]: stitch pattern repeats within a marker
(*…*): pattern repeats in a round

The Cozy Mood Winter Hat Pattern (images and text for personal use only)

With US#13 knitting needles and Colorway 1 yarn, cast on 60 stitches using the cable cast on method. Transfer all the stitches to US #10.5 16-inch circular knitting needles, slip a BOR (beginning of round marker) and join round by knitting the following:

1×1 Ribbing:
Round 1: [K1, P1] repeat […] till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Repeat Round 1, five more times. Place a marker after 12 stitches in the last round.

Body of Hat:
Change to US#13 16-inch circular knitting needles and knit the following:
Round 1: Colorway 2 – (*wyib S1, wyif S1, [K1, wyif S1] repeat […] till marker, sm*), repeat (*…*) three more times, wyib S1, wyif S1, [K1, wyif S1] repeat […] till BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 2: Colorway 1- (*K1, [K1, wyif S1] repeat […] till 1 stitch before marker, K1, sm*), repeat (*…*) three more times, K1, [K1, wyif S1] repeat […] till 1 stitch before BOR marker, K1, slip BOR marker
Repeat Round 1 and 2, nine more times

Crown Shaping of Hat:
Round 1: Colorway 2 – (*wyib S1, K2tog, wyif S1, [K1, wyif S1] till two stitches before marker, K2tog, sm*), repeat (*…*) three more times, wyib S1, K2tog, wyif S1, [K1, wyif S1] till two stitches before marker, K2tog, slip BOR marker 
Round 2: Colorway 1 – (*K1, [wyif S1, K1] till one stitch before marker, wyif S1, sm*), repeat (*…*) three more times, K1, [wyif S1, K1] till one stitch before marker, wyif S1, slip BOR marker (50 stitches remaining)
Round 3: Colorway 2 –  (*wyib S1, K2tog, K1, wyif S1, K1, wyif S1, K1, K2tog, sm*), repeat (*…*) three more times, wyib S1, K2tog, K1, wyif S1, K1, wyif S1, K1, K2tog, slip BOR marker
Round 4: Colorway 1 – (*K1, wyif S1, wyib S1, K1, wyif S1, K1, wyif S1, wyib S1, sm*), repeat (*…*) three more times, K1, wyif S1, wyib S1, K1, wyif S1, K1, wyif S1, wyib S1, slip BOR marker (40 stitches remaining)
Round 5: Colorway 2 – (*wyib S1, K2tog, wyif S1, K1, wyif S1, K2tog, sm*), repeat (*…*) three more times, wyib S1, K2tog, wyif S1, K1, wyif S1, K2tog, slip BOR marker 
Round 6: Colorway 1 – (*K1, wyif S1, K1, wyif S1, K1, wyif S1, sm*), repeat (*…*) three more times, K1, wyif S1, K1, wyif S1, K1, wyif S1, slip BOR markers (30 stitches remaining)
Round 7: Colorway 2 – (*wyib S1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, sm*), repeat (*…*) three more times, wyib S1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, slip BOR marker
Round 8: Colorway 1 – (*K1, wyif S1, wyib S1, wyif S1, sm*) repeat (*…*) three more times, K1, wyif S1, wyib S1, wyif S1, slip BOR marker (20 stitches remaining)
Round 9: Colorway 2 – (*K2tog, K2tog, rm*), repeat (*…*) three more times, K2tog, K2tog, slip BOR marker, break and secure Colorway 2 yarn
Round 10: Colorway 1 – Knit all stitches (10 stitches remaining), remove BOR marker

Cut 6 inches of the working yarn (Colorway 1), thread it onto a tapestry needle and weave the yarn through the remaining 10 stitches. Pull on the working yarn to tighten and close the gap. 

Pom Pom (optional):
I made the pom pom using a pom pom maker with Colorway 2 yarn and attached it on top of the hat

Weave in the ends, wash and block the Cozy Mood Winter Hat

Keep warm this winter and happy knitting!

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: Pfb (Purl front and back)

Posted in Pfb (Purl front and back), Tutorial Series by

Purl front and back (Pfb) is the method to increase stitches on the purl side in a row or round. One stitch in a row or round is added when the first stitch on the left knitting needle is purled in the front loop as well as in the back loop before sliding that stitch off the left needle. The written instructions and video below show how to increase stitches by doing a Pfb for right handed knitting.

Abbreviations:

  • P: purl
  • Pfb: purl front and back

Pfb (Purl front and back) in slow motion:

.

Pfb (Purl front and back) written instructions:

  • With working yarn in front, insert the right knitting needle from front to back into the front loop of the first stitch on the left knitting needle
  • Bring the working yarn around and between the left and right knitting needles
  • With the right needle, catch and pull the loop made by the working yarn under the front loop of the stitch on the left needle
  • Turn the right needle towards the back loop of the same stitch on the left needle
  • Insert the right needle from back to front into the back loop of the same first stitch on the left needle
  • Bring the working yarn around and between the two needles
  • Catch and pull the new loop made by the working yarn with the right needle
  • Slide the first stitch off the left needle and secure the two new stitches on the right needle

P1, Pfb, P1, Pfb:

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

The Cozy Season Shrug Pattern

Posted in October 2023, The Cozy Season Shrug Pattern by

The cozy time of the year has begun and with it a reason to knit the cozy sweaters, shrugs etc. to keep us warm and give us comfort during the cold autumn mornings and evenings. The Cozy Season Shrug is knit with Loops and Threads® Charisma™ yarn that is bulky weight yet it’s light and warm without the itchiness or heaviness of a bulky weight wool yarn. The Cozy Season Shrug knits up quite fast and makes a cozy holiday gift. I knit two Cozy Season Shrugs with the same yarn but in two different colorways which embodies the autumn season to me with the vibrant and earthy tones of the colorway Clay Heather and the snow covered ground and trees of the colorway White Tweed. 

The Cozy Season Shrug is knit top down in a yoke construction with stitches increased in four intervals. It begins with eight rounds of 2 x 2 rib stitch pattern for the collar followed by stockinette stitch pattern with garter stitch ridge/stripe for the body and then a border of eight rounds of garter stitch pattern. The decorative bind off used for the Cozy Season Shrug is a variation of the knotted K2tog (video tutorial below) bind off method. 

The Cozy Season Shrug Pattern (images and text for personal use only)

Yarn: Loops and Threads® Charisma™ Heather yarn in Colorway Clay Heather (4 skeins for this project) and Loops and Threads® Charisma™ Tweed in Colorway White Tweed (5 skeins for this project)
Knitting Needles: US #9 (5.5 mm) 16-inch circular needles; US #10 (6.0 mm) 16-inch and 24-inch or 32-inch circular knitting needles. 
Tapestry needle to weave in ends
Gauge: 12.0 stitches in 4 inches in the stockinette stitch pattern
Size of the Cozy Season Shrug: Length from cast on to bind off is about 17 inches and width around the  shoulders is about 48 inches. 

Abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
wyif: with working yarn in front
wyib: with working yarn in back
slip knitwise: with working yarn in back slip 1 stitch knitwise from the left needle
[…]: stitch pattern repeats
Kfb: Knit a stitch in the front and back (Kfb tutorial)
BOR marker: Beginning of round marker 

With US #10 size knitting needles, cast on 72 stitches using the cable cast on method. 

Transfer all the stitches to US #9 16-inch circular knitting needles, place a BOR marker on the right needle and join round by knitting the following:
Round 1: With US #9 16-inch circular knitting needle, [K2, P2] repeat […] till BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 2 to Round 8: [K2, P2] repeat […] till BOR marker, slip BOR marker

Change to US #10 16-inch circular knitting needle
Round 9: Increase 10 stitches in this round. Knit stitches with a Kfb in 10 stitches spaced evenly in the round till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker (10 stitches increased) 
Round 10: Purl all stitches till the BOR marker, slip the BOR marker
Round 11: Wyib slip the first stitch knitwise, knit all stitches till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 12 to Round 15: Knit all stitches till BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 16: Increase 16 stitches in this round. Knit stitches with a Kfb in 16 stitches spaced evenly in the round till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker (16 stitches increased) 
Round 17: Purl all stitches till the BOR marker, slip the BOR marker
Round 18: Wyib slip the first stitch knitwise, knit all stitches till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 19 to Round 22: Knit all stitches till BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 23: Increase 20 stitches in this round. Knit stitches with a Kfb in 20 stitches spaced evenly in the round till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker (20 stitches increased) 
Round 24: Purl all stitches till the BOR marker, slip the BOR marker
Round 25: Wyib slip the first stitch knitwise, knit all stitches till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 26 to Round 29: Knit all stitches till BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 30: Increase 32 stitches in this round. Knit stitches with a Kfb in 32 stitches spaced evenly in the round till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker (32 stitches increased) 
Round 31: Purl all stitches till the BOR marker, slip the BOR marker

Change to US #10 24-inch or 32-inch circular knitting needle (Total stitch count is 150) 
Round 32: Wyib slip the first stitch knitwise, knit all stitches till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 33 to 37: Knit all stitches till BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 38: Purl all stitches till the BOR marker, slip the BOR marker

Repeat Rounds 32 to 38, seven more times

Garter Stitch Border: 
Round 1: Wyib slip the first stitch knitwise, knit all stitches till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 2: Purl all stitches till the BOR marker, slip the BOR marker
Round 3: Wyib slip the first stitch knitwise, knit all stitches till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 4: Purl all stitches till the BOR marker, slip the BOR marker
Round 5: Wyib slip the first stitch knitwise, knit all stitches till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 6: Purl all stitches till the BOR marker, slip the BOR marker
Round 7: Wyib slip the first stitch knitwise, knit all stitches till the BOR marker, slip BOR marker
Round 8: Purl all stitches till the BOR marker, slip the BOR marker

Knotted K2tog bind off: (short video below after written instruction) 
Bind off Round: K2, wyif slip the 2 stitches on the right needle back to the left knitting needle, wrap working yarn in front of the 2 stitches and K2tog, K1, pass the second stitch over the first stitch on the right needle; [K1, wyif slip the 2 stitches on the right needle back to the left knitting needle, wrap working yarn in front of the 2 stitches and K2tog, K1, pass the second stitch over the first stitch on the right needle; repeat […] till one stitch left. Cut yarn and pull working yarn through the last stitch. 

Weave in the ends, wash and block the Cozy Season Shrug

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

Tutorial Series: (Kfb) Knit front and back

Posted in Kfb (Knit front and back), Tutorial Series by

One way to increase stitches in knitting is the Kfb (knit front and back) method. Increasing stitches in knitting is used to give shape to knitted items, for texture and for lace work. An extra stitch is added in a row or round when a stitch on the left knitting needle is knit both in the front loop as well as in the back loop. This tutorial includes written instructions and two videos (one in slow motion) on how to increase stitches by doing a Kfb for right handed knitting.

Kfb in Slow Motion:

Written Instructions for Kfb (Knit front and back):

  • Insert the right knitting needle into the front loop of the first stitch on the left knitting needle
  • Bring the working yarn around and between the left and right knitting needles
  • Catch and pull the loop made by the working yarn with the right needle
  • Turn the right needle towards the back loop of the same stitch on the left needle
  • Insert the right needle into the back loop of that stitch
  • Bring the working yarn around and between the two needles
  • Catch and pull the new loop made by the working yarn with the right needle
  • Slide the first stitch off the left needle and secure the two new stitches on the right needle

The video below shows Knit 1, KFB, Knit 1, Kfb:

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.